Recent Newshttps://www.ecok.edu/news/weightloss.htm
enTHOMPSON SERVING AS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INTERN IN ALASKA; EARNS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PROJECT AWARDhttps://www.ecok.edu/article/thompson-serving-environmental-health-intern-alaska-earns-environmental-research-project-award
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-portrait-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-portrait/public/Linzi%20Thompson%20presentation%202.jpg?itok=xOSSPPmA" width="400" height="369" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-image-caption field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">East Central University student Linzi Thompson presents her research project at the National Environmental Health Association Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla., in mid-July.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>Linzi Thompson took a break from her customary environmental research projects this summer.</p>
<p>But it wasn’t one of relaxation and spending time on the beach.</p>
<p>The East Central University fifth-year senior has been spending the summer in Sitka, Alaska as an environmental health intern with the Southeast Alaska Native Health Consortium (SEARHC) which works in conjunction with the Indian Health Services to promote health for Alaskan natives.</p>
<p>The Sulphur native and Ada resident managed to break away from Alaska to accept an Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP) Student Research Competition Award at the National Environmental Health Association Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla., in mid-July.</p>
<p>She presented her McNair Scholars research project at the conference in which she was one of only four winners from across the country.</p>
<p>The project, completed with the help of Dr. Scott Huling at the Kerr Laboratory in 2014, was over the potential effects of certain nanoparticles (found in sunscreens, paints, cosmetics, etc.) once they reach surface waters. More specifically, it focused on the photo-catalytic oxidation of natural organic matter due to UV photoactivation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles.</p>
<p>“Each winner received a $1,000 cash prize as well as paid travel/food to present the research as a poster and PowerPoint at the national conference,” said Thompson.</p>
<p>Thompson’s time in Alaska as an environmental health intern consists of traveling with a coworker to remote communities/villages via bush plane.</p>
<p>“While there we complete environmental tours in which we inspect their healthcare facilities, senior centers and landfills to ensure that proper health and safety measures are being met,” Thompson said. “We then write up reports and recommendations on how they can further protect the community’s citizens.”</p>
<p>According to Thompson, the villages, consisting predominately of native population, typically range from 100 to 500 people and can only be accessed by boat or plane.</p>
<p>“I’ve also worked on home inspections. The U.S. Government built homes for thousands of Native Alaskans in the area and many are beginning to rot and mold, causing serious health risks,” said Thompson. “We inspect the homes and write up reports as a third party. The information is used to apply for a U.S. grant to have the homes fixed at no cost to the homeowner.”</p>
<p>Thompson picked up the internship with the help of Dr. Patrick Bohan, professor of environmental health science at ECU. Pay, housing and travel were included in the internship.</p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center"><strong>-ECU-</strong></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-immediate-release field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">For Immediate Release:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>Contact: Brian Johnson or Amy Ford</p>
<p> East Central University Communications and Marketing</p>
<p> 580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)</p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 28 Jul 2015 12:26:14 +0000bjohnson11555 at https://www.ecok.eduSTAFFORD RECEIVES FIRST JUSTICE RUDOLPH HARGRAVE SCHOLARSHIP AT ECUhttps://www.ecok.edu/article/stafford-receives-first-justice-rudolph-hargrave-scholarship-ecu
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-portrait-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-portrait/public/Stafford%20receives%20Hargrave%20Scholarship.jpg?itok=Om36euiZ" width="400" height="264" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-image-caption field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Lauren Stafford (second from left) receives the Justice Rudolph Hargrave Centennial Legal Studies Scholarship at East Central University. Also pictured are Phyllis Danley (far left), executive director of the ECU Foundation, Inc.; Cindy Hargrave Keefer, daughter of Justice Hargrave; ECU President John R. Hargrave, son of Justice Hargrave and Dr. Christine Pappas, Political Science and Legal Studies Chair.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>The first Justice Rudolph Hargrave Centennial Legal Studies Scholarship at East Central University has been awarded to Holdenville sophomore Lauren Stafford, it was recently announced.</p>
<p>Justice Hargrave began his education at ECU before completing his law degree at the University of Oklahoma. He served as an attorney and county judge before being appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court by Gov. David Boren in 1978.</p>
<p>Hargrave served on Oklahoma’s Supreme Court until his retirement in 2010. He was twice elected by his peers to serve as Chief Justice. His legal legacy includes writing straightforward legal opinions and being a fierce defender of the First Amendment.</p>
<p>In honor of Justice Hargrave’s service to the state, a scholarship was created by his wife Madeline and their son ECU President John R. Hargrave.</p>
<p>Stafford is pursuing a double major in political science and legal studies and holds a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. Once she completes her degree at ECU, she plans to attend OU’s Law School.</p>
<p>“It’s an honor to be chosen to be the first person for this opportunity,” Stafford said. “I am grateful for the opportunity that President Hargrave and his family have given me.”</p>
<p>Stafford is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and this summer has been completing an internship at the Chickasaw Nation Self-Governance Department.</p>
<p>“When we were selecting the recipient for the first Hargrave Scholarship, I immediately thought of Lauren,” said Political Science and Legal Studies Department Chair Dr. Christine Pappas. “Like Justice Hargrave, she wants to go to OU Law and dedicate her life to legal service in the state of Oklahoma.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center"><strong>-ECU-</strong></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-immediate-release field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">For Immediate Release:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>Contact: Brian Johnson or Amy Ford</p>
<p> East Central University Communications and Marketing</p>
<p> 580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)</p>
</div></div></div>Mon, 27 Jul 2015 16:26:19 +0000bjohnson11554 at https://www.ecok.eduMANKIN FAMILY DONATES GRAND PIANO TO ECUhttps://www.ecok.edu/article/mankin-family-donates-grand-piano-ecu
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-portrait-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-portrait/public/Grand%20Piano%20Donation.jpg?itok=vsFlA7S2" width="400" height="259" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>The family of Joe and Tammy Mankin recently donated a Conober Cable Grand Piano to the East Central University Foundation. The piano, which has been placed in the David Lockmiller Lobby in the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center, features a disc player which allows it to act like a player piano. The piano has already been used for receptions and other campus activities. “This is a beautiful piano and a wonderful gift to ECU. We are grateful to the Mankins for this donation, and they can be assured that their gift will be appreciated by students, staff and the community for years to come,” said Phyllis Danley, executive director of the ECU Foundation, Inc. Pictured left to right is the Mankin family of Cody, Corbin, Casey, Joe and Tammy, along with Dr. Mark Hollingsworth, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Dr. Brad Jessop, director of the School of Fine Arts and Phyllis Danley.</p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center"><strong>-ECU-</strong></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-immediate-release field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">For Immediate Release:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>Contact: Brian Johnson or Amy Ford</p>
<p> East Central University Communications and Marketing</p>
<p> 580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 22 Jul 2015 12:15:22 +0000bjohnson11548 at https://www.ecok.eduECU SCREENS TO CELEBRATE HELEN MIRREN’S 70TH BIRTHDAYhttps://www.ecok.edu/article/ecu-screens-celebrate-helen-mirren-s-70th-birthday
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-portrait-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-portrait/public/The%20audience.jpg?itok=_dC4O_ZN" width="400" height="600" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>East Central University will screen the award-winning play “The Audience” at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 26, in the Raymond J. Estep Multimedia Center of the Bill S. Cole University Center.</p>
<p>Helen Mirren “dazzles” (<em>Metro</em>) as Queen Elizabeth II in this critically-acclaimed production. On Sunday, Mirren will be celebrating her 70th birthday. In honor of this occasion, ECU SCREENS will serve free birthday cake to the audience and offer free admission to anyone born on July 26.</p>
<p>“The Audience” recently won the 2015 Tony Awards® for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Helen Mirren) and the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role (Richard McCabe), and was nominated for Best Costume Design (Bob Crowley). Mirren also won an Olivier Award for this performance and an Academy Award for her portrayal of Her Majesty in the 2006 film “The Queen.”</p>
<p>ECU SCREENS is collaborating with Sigma Tau Delta and The Honors Student Association to show the “funny and truthful” (<em>The Times</em>) recorded-live production of “The Audience” performed in London’s West End. Open to the public, the screening is $5 for students and $10 for members of the community.</p>
<p>For 60 years, Queen Elizabeth II has met with each of her twelve Prime Ministers in a private weekly meeting. This meeting is known as The Audience. No one knows what they discuss, not even their spouses.</p>
<p>From the old warrior Winston Churchill, to the Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher, from Tony Blair right up to today’s meetings with the current incumbent David Cameron, the Queen advises her Prime Ministers on all matters both public and personal. Through these private audiences, we see glimpses of the woman behind the crown and witness the moments that shaped a monarch.</p>
<p>This showing is the third in a series of NT Live productions presented by ECU SCREENS this summer. NT Live is the National Theatre's groundbreaking project to broadcast the best of British theatre to cinemas around the world. To learn more about ECU SCREENS and the season schedule, visit <a href="http://www.ecuscreens.blogspot.com">www.ecuscreens.blogspot.com</a> or follow us at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ECU.SCREENS">www.facebook.com/ECU.SCREENS</a>. For more information about the Royal National Theatre in London and the NT Live screenings, visit <a href="http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/">http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/</a>. Dr. Steve Benton, co-director of ECU SCREENS, may be contacted at (580) 559-5448 or <a href="mailto:sbenton@ecok.edu">sbenton@ecok.edu</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center"><strong>-ECU-</strong></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-immediate-release field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">For Immediate Release:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p> Contact: Brian Johnson or Amy Ford</p>
<p> East Central University Communications and Marketing</p>
<p> 580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)</p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 21 Jul 2015 11:08:06 +0000bjohnson11547 at https://www.ecok.eduGENEROUS DONATION FROM ROARK ESTATE GOING TOWARD ECU SCHOLARSHIPShttps://www.ecok.edu/article/generous-donation-roark-estate-going-toward-ecu-scholarships
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-portrait-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-portrait/public/Roark%20Donation%20from%20Estate%2C%206-17-15.jpg?itok=jv33i2SZ" width="400" height="253" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>The East Central University Foundation received a generous donation of $216,500 from the estate of Essie Roark for its scholarship program. Pictured in front are (left to right) Shirley Pogue, chair of the ECU Foundation Scholarship Committee; Keywood Deese, vice president and trust officer for Vision Bank; Phyllis Danley, executive director of the ECU Foundation and ECU President John R. Hargrave. In back are (left to right) Vicky Petete, treasurer and chair of the audit and finance committees for the ECU Foundation and Russ Allen, trustee for the ECU Foundation.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-immediate-release field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">For Immediate Release:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>Contact: Brian Johnson or Amy Ford</p>
<p> East Central University Communications and Marketing</p>
<p> 580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)</p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 16 Jul 2015 14:33:57 +0000bjohnson11431 at https://www.ecok.eduDR. KATRICIA PIERSON NAMED ECU’S NEW PROVOST, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRShttps://www.ecok.edu/article/dr-katricia-pierson-named-ecu-s-new-provost-vice-president-academic-affairs
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-portrait-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-portrait/public/K_Pierson2015.jpg?itok=wYpZNIo7" width="400" height="500" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-image-caption field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Dr. Katricia Pierson</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>Dr. Katricia Pierson views strong relationships as the key to strengthening current programs and developing new ones.</p>
<p>Those efforts have led to a successful run as assistant vice president for academic affairs at East Central University since 2011. Now, Pierson takes over as ECU’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, replacing the retiring Dr. Duane Anderson.</p>
<p>“Dr. Pierson has proven to be innovative and proactive in her duties in dealing with students and faculty as assistant vice president for academic affairs,” said ECU President John R. Hargrave. “These qualities, along with her four-year familiarity with the university, certainly enhanced her ability to acquire this position. We look forward to what she will bring to the table in coming years.”</p>
<p>Pierson has served as a resolver of conflicts.</p>
<p>“I research the situation, collect data about the problem and then speak to the individuals involved to determine a balanced outcome,” Pierson said. “Many times over the past few years, I’ve had students and faculty tell me they appreciated the resolution.”</p>
<p>In upholding ECU’s mission to educate students for life in a rapidly changing and culturally diverse society, Pierson has implemented changes such as the establishment of a retention office to work with faculty and students, automation of end-of-course surveys with more than 50 percent being completed online, use of MyECU for online enrollment and, most recently, the availability of a student’s degree audit being available in MyECU.</p>
<p>Pierson has continually reviewed data to determine if a process or policy needs revision. Her focus is on using new information and technologies to become more efficient, to streamline processes, to eliminate redundancies and to be fiscally responsible.</p>
<p>In supporting the university, she has been involved with federal and state agencies. For instance, she has served as ECU’s liaison for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) course equivalency project (CEP), which consists of communication with OSRHE staff about course changes and organizing faculty to attend the CEP each fall.</p>
<p>While attending OSRHE and Regional University of Oklahoma (RUSO) board meetings, Pierson is aware of what is going on in the state which is essential for guiding the university.</p>
<p>“As a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission, I was aware of the changes that occur at the federal level that impacts the accreditation requirements for all colleges and universities,” Pierson said. “I was able to see how other institutions react to compliance and accreditation requirements and bring back best practices to ECU.”</p>
<p>Knowing the issues that lawmakers and accreditors contemplate enabled Pierson to communicate with faculty and staff in order to lead the institution rather than be led by the decisions of others.</p>
<p>In addition to her assistant vice president for academic affairs duties the past four years, she has served as professor of English and languages in ECU’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.</p>
<p>Pierson earned both her doctorate (2004) and master’s degree (1998) in English from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and received her bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism Secondary Education from the University of Wyoming in 1988.</p>
<p>Prior to her arrival at ECU, Pierson was division chair for sciences and humanities at William Woods University (2010-2011) and was associate dean of academic assessment at that same institution (2008-2011). She also served as director of the University Honors Program at William Woods from 2007-2011.</p>
<p>She held teaching positions as associate professor of English at William Woods (2004-2010), assistant professor of English at Pikeville College in Kentucky (2001-2004) and graduate student instructor in the Department of English at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville (1996-2000).</p>
<p>Pierson has also garnered numerous grants and awards and has been selected to participate in various professional academic activities.</p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center"><strong>-ECU-</strong></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-immediate-release field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">For Immediate Release:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>Contact: Brian Johnson or Amy Ford</p>
<p> East Central University Communications and Marketing</p>
<p> 580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 15:40:10 +0000bjohnson11430 at https://www.ecok.eduECU BUSINESS SCHOOL DEAN WENDELL GODWIN NAMED PRESIDENT, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR REGION 6 OF ACBSPhttps://www.ecok.edu/article/ecu-business-school-dean-wendell-godwin-named-president-chairman-board-region-6-acbsp
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-portrait-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-portrait/public/GodwinWendell2x3.jpg?itok=VaLjU5th" width="144" height="216" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-image-caption field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Wendell Godwin, dean of the ECU Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>Wendell Godwin, dean of East Central University’s Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business, has been named president and chairman of the board for the Southwestern Council of Business Schools and Programs, it was recently announced.</p>
<p>The Southwestern Council of Business Schools and Programs is under the umbrella of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The Southwest Council encompasses the states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas.</p>
<p>The mission of the ACBSP is to establish, promote and recognize educational standards that contribute to the continuous improvement of business education and, through the process of accreditation, to recognize business schools and programs that adhere to these standards.</p>
<p>In addition to Godwin being voted in as president, ECU will serve as the host of the 2015 ACBSP Region 6 Conference, Oct. 21-23, at the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center on the ECU campus.</p>
<p>“Being elected to serve on the leadership team and work with our new board of directors is a true honor,” said Godwin. “It means a lot as a professional when peers have confidence in your ability, support your vision and trust you will lead the organization forward. It’s an honor to work with a great team of academic professionals both at the national and regional level of ACBSP. Our focus on teaching excellence is truly inspirational.”</p>
<p>Godwin has led the ECU School of Business since 2010. Through his leadership, the Stonecipher School of Business has blossomed into a model program for the region. Being housed in the new Chickasaw Business and Conference Center which opened in 2013, the school has experienced growth, not only in the number of students, but increased technological opportunities and award-winning faculty.</p>
<p>After earning his bachelor of science in business administration degree from ECU in 1984, Godwin completed the executive MBA program at Southern Methodist University in 2005. He then had a 26-year professional career, which included stints in leadership at two Fortune 1000 organizations. He was the area vice president and director of sales for Healthcare before arriving at ECU.</p>
<p>Godwin not only serves as dean but teaches classes in which he provides insight from the business world. His business travels have not only taken him through much of the United States, but also to China, Japan, Mexico, Canada and various countries in Europe.</p>
<p>“Past (Region 6) President Cara Beth Johnson (of Northern Oklahoma College) has provided a lot of support over the past two years. We have an excellent team of officers at the region level,” Godwin said. “Jeffrey Alderman, chief executive officer for ACBSP, has brought an inspirational leadership style to the organization. I look forward to working with Jeff and his leadership team more closely during the next academic year. Our organization is the leader in global accreditation with its primary focus on teaching excellence.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center"><strong>-ECU-</strong></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-immediate-release field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">For Immediate Release:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>Contact: Brian Johnson or Amy Ford</p>
<p> East Central University Communications and Marketing</p>
<p> 580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)</p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 02 Jul 2015 18:59:14 +0000bjohnson11386 at https://www.ecok.eduINNOVATIVE CLASSROOM EFFORTS LEAD TO BOLIN RECEIVING DA VINCI AWARDhttps://www.ecok.edu/article/innovative-classroom-efforts-lead-bolin-receiving-da-vinci-award
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-portrait-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-portrait/public/Stacey%20Bolin%20DaVinci%20Award%20Photo.jpg?itok=3V3BN5K7" width="400" height="331" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-image-caption field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Stacey Bolin (center), director of East Central University’s Wilburn L. Smith Center for Entrepreneurship and assistant professor of business administration, was one of five faculty from across the state who was presented with the prestigious Da Vinci Award. The award goes to faculty, whose accomplishments reflect creative and innovative approaches that have made a significant contribution to their academic discipline. Pictured (from left) are Dr. Mark Hollingsworth, dean of ECU’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Wendell Godwin, dean of ECU’s Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business; Bolin; recently retired Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Duane Anderson and Dr. Taryn Chubb, art professor and member of the Da Vinci Board.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>As an instructor in East Central University’s Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business, Stacey Bolin’s classroom approach is creative and unconventional.</p>
<p>By virtue of that, Bolin was one of only five college faculty from across the state to receive the prestigious Da Vinci Fellowship Award this past spring.</p>
<p>These awards go to higher education faculty, whose accomplishments reflect creative and innovative approaches that have made a significant contribution to their academic discipline.</p>
<p>“It’s an amazing honor. First, it’s an honor to be ECU’s nominee especially for a faculty member who hasn’t been here that long,” said Bolin, who also serves as director for the Wilburn L. Smith Center for Entrepreneurship and was recently elevated to assistant professor of business administration.</p>
<p>The fresh approach and creativity she brings to the classroom has drawn praises from Wendell Godwin, dean of ECU’s Stonecipher School of Business.</p>
<p>“Stacey has demonstrated excellence in the classroom and in the programs that she is engaged in at ECU,” said Godwin. “She has combined her education with 10 years of industry experience to bring innovation and fresh ideas into the classroom.”</p>
<p>In leading an entrepreneurship class, Bolin’s goal is to make it a real-life experience.</p>
<p>“It’s more than just reading a textbook. In fact, we don’t use a traditional textbook,” Bolin said. “But there are readings.”</p>
<p>In the spirit of television’s “Shark Tank”, she developed a “Tiger Tank” competition, which is part of the entrepreneurship class.</p>
<p>“We try to teach students how to deliver a good pitch for a new idea,” said Bolin. “I share two or three recent articles on the topic from resources like Entrepreneur Magazine, two or three examples, via video, of good and bad pitches, then coach them on creating a pitch for an idea that they have for a new product, service or social venture. To help get them started, I break the class into small groups and walk them through creating the hook or opening sentence, then they share hook ideas with each other for their ideas.”</p>
<p>Those efforts have also led to success for ECU teams in the statewide Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup, an entrepreneurship competition. In fact, ECU teams swept the top three spots in the small business division of the most recent event this past spring while teams and individuals have claimed prizes in past competitions.</p>
<p>Bolin has also instituted programs which have engaged students and potential students. One is the highly successful and award-winning Oklahoma Business Week, a summer camp for high school students to learn business practices from actual professionals. OBW has received regional and national acclamation.</p>
<p>She also helped with the creation and delivering of a Robotics Camp on campus.</p>
<p>“Bolin utilizes her career experiences in web programming, sales, sales management, finance, marketing and entrepreneurship to supercharge the classroom experience,” Godwin said. “Her creativity, innovation and drive to constantly raise the bar in her classrooms and programs perfectly matches the Da Vinci mission to promote a creativity renaissance through lectureships, workshops, professional development, research and advocacy.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center"><strong>-ECU-</strong></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-immediate-release field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">For Immediate Release:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>Contact: Brian Johnson or Amy Ford</p>
<p> East Central University Communications and Marketing</p>
<p> 580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)</p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 02 Jul 2015 18:35:49 +0000bjohnson11385 at https://www.ecok.eduDR. ANDERSON SET TO RETIREhttps://www.ecok.edu/article/dr-anderson-set-retire
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-portrait-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-portrait/public/Dr.%20A.%20medallion.jpg?itok=EmndVZKw" width="400" height="600" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-image-caption field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">As Interim ECU President, Dr. Duane Anderson wore the honored medallion and led the 2009 Commencement Ceremony, an event he holds dear to his heart each year. </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p><strong>By Cathie Harding</strong></p>
<p>When Duane Anderson moved from North Dakota to Oklahoma to begin his academic career, he left with his grandfather Anderson’s love of books and sense of civic and public duty to walk his own walk. His official walk with East Central University ends this summer.</p>
<p>Dr. Anderson, the longest-serving chief academic officer in Oklahoma, announced his retirement from ECU effective June 30.</p>
<p>“I am ready,” Anderson said. “I have been forty years at this, and I think there is a lot of truth to the old saying, you know when it is time. This was the year and this was the time. I am very much at peace with it.”</p>
<p>Anderson has been ECU’s vice president for academic affairs since 1994 and provost since 2006. He also served as interim president of the university in 2009 in transition from Dr. Richard Rafes to current President John R. Hargrave.</p>
<p>“The highlight of my 25 years at ECU was the opportunity to serve as interim president during the centennial year,” he said. “It was a significant milestone in the university’s life and as it turned out, mine too.”</p>
<p>Anderson presided over the 100-year birthday celebration of the institution and made the centennial comments. He also saw a 15-year-old dream come true with the construction of the Centennial Gates, three 4 foot tall x 10 foot wide brick gates located at main entrances to campus.</p>
<p>“I thought we needed gates to announce the university to visitors,” he said.</p>
<p>He also drove a campaign for the establishment of centennial endowment. The goal was to raise five $15,000 scholarships, but that goal was overwhelmingly exceeded as 22 scholarships were created for a total of more than $350,000.</p>
<p>One of the centennial history scholarships is named in honor of Anderson and his wife, Marian.</p>
<p>“I have never known anyone who has put in more time or dedication to a job than Duane Anderson,” Hargrave said. “He has helped me immeasurably to learn all I can about higher education.”</p>
<p>Anderson began his journey as an undergraduate student majoring in accounting at North Dakota University in Grand Forks.</p>
<p>“That didn’t really take,” he said.</p>
<p>A love of books led him to a history major. His grandfather, a farmer and rancher in the western part of the state, read books all the time. Anderson comes from a family of big readers who instilled in him an interest in ideas and knowledge.</p>
<p>After a stint as a student teacher, Anderson decided he was not cut out for high school education. He decided to become an historian and work at the college level.</p>
<p>“I wanted to have a job where someone paid me to read books,” he said. “That worked for a while, but after becoming an administrator, I didn’t have time to read books. The irony of all that is that since becoming an administrator, I work on budgets all the time and have, in essence, become an accountant.”</p>
<p>In 1990, Anderson came to ECU as associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of the School of Graduate Studies. He also taught British history. He chose ECU because he had an opportunity and knew the president at the time, Bill S. Cole.</p>
<p>“I also knew the reputation of this institution,” he said. “The challenge of helping to continue that reputation kept me here.”</p>
<p>When Anderson first came to campus, he worked for John Bulman, who took the new guy under his wing and shared the Bulman family’s long and deep history with ECU.</p>
<p>“John was one of the most gracious and dignified people I have ever known,” Anderson said. “He spent a lot of time conveying to me the history and the lore of this institution. He and others like him came here and stayed here because there was something special about ECU. He had a great influence on my staying here. John was a person of great importance to me.”</p>
<p>Anderson followed Bulman’s lead and shared his knowledge and insight with the new president.</p>
<p>“When I was offered the job at ECU, the RUSO board game me one piece of advice and that was to get down here to Ada and find out everything I could learn from Duane Anderson,” Hargrave said.</p>
<p>Anderson was instrumental in spearheading transfer articulation agreements between ECU and Eastern Oklahoma State College, Murray State College and Seminole State College to help ensure more ease for students in the transfer process from the three two-year institutions to ECU. He also led the effort to infuse computer technology in the teaching and learning process.</p>
<p>He chaired the faculty committee that revised the general education curriculum in 1996, developed the institution’s strategic planning efforts and strengthened and highlighted the importance of graduate programming,</p>
<p>His biggest hurdle has been money, finding it and using it wisely while overseeing the expansion of funding success.</p>
<p>“The biggest challenge was making the money stretch far enough to get done what needed to be done,” he said. “It is a challenge every day.”</p>
<p>Anderson’s belief in involvement in education can be traced back to his grandfather, who served on the school board for the country school near the ranch back in North Dakota. Anderson said he feels higher education is for the public good, not just private gain. It is an opportunity for people to better themselves. Everyone needs to play a role in its success in order to compete with the nations of the world.</p>
<p>“You can’t have higher education without investment,” he said. “Public money has to go into higher education. If things don’t change, the policy makers will drive this state into third world nation status. It is very depressing if you think about it too long.”</p>
<p>Anderson oversaw the incorporation of service learning into the curriculum and helped establish various campus-wide programs to retain students and encourage student success.</p>
<p>In addition, the percentage of faculty at ECU holding doctorate degrees has continually increased under his leadership.</p>
<p>He previously was director of continuing education at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado from 1986 to 1990 and held several positions, including dean of community services at El Reno Junior College (now Redlands Community College) from 1975 to 1986.</p>
<p>Anderson earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Dakota and a doctorate in history from the University of Oklahoma.</p>
<p>The Andersons have just completed a new house in Norman and plan to retire there.</p>
<p> “I have no definite plans, but I am sure that by and by, I will become bored with retirement and make some,” he said.</p>
<p>He looks forward to spending time with his wife, three children and four grandchildren. He hopes to catch up on his reading and even though he hates doing yard work, assumes he will be doing a lot of it.</p>
<p>Anderson will vacate Danley Hall June 30 at 5 p.m., no earlier.</p>
<p>“I am ready, he said. “It might be hard to walk out the door if I am still toting all these books. I will leave with some regrets, but it is not like I am going 2,000 miles away. I don’t think I will have any difficulty on the last day.”</p>
<p>Anderson plans to continue relations with ECU in some fashion, but is not sure in what capacity, yet.</p>
<p>“I know that Dr. Anderson will continue to serve the university in any way we call upon him to do,” Hargrave said.” I am sure we will call upon him often.”</p>
<p>Anderson said he has enjoyed working with President Hargrave and wishes the university success in challenging times to come.</p>
<p>“The reason we work here is because of the students,” he said. “That’s what makes the lifestyle all professor have so rich. That I will miss. I will also miss the highlight of the year which for me has always been commencement, seeing the students and their families as excited as they are is a reward in and of itself. I will miss that.”</p>
<p>Students, faculty, staff and the community will come together in the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center on June 25 to celebrate Dr. Anderson’s walk with ECU.</p>
<p>“East Central University has been most fortunate to have his loyalty, expertise and the long, hard hours he has worked these many years,” Hargrave said. “I wish the Andersons the best in their retirement and the best in life.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center"><strong>-ECU-</strong></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-immediate-release field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">For Immediate Release:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>Contact: Brian Johnson or Amy Ford</p>
<p> East Central University Communications and Marketing</p>
<p> 580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)</p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:52:54 +0000bjohnson11328 at https://www.ecok.eduPOGUE ART GALLERY SERVING AS HOST OF ECU ALUMNI EXHIBIThttps://www.ecok.edu/article/pogue-art-gallery-serving-host-ecu-alumni-exhibit
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/styles/article-landscape/public/default_images/logo_1.png?itok=Sg_U3IZG" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>East Central University’s Pogue Art Gallery is serving as host of an ECU Alumni Art Exhibit from now until Aug. 21.</p>
<p>All of the artists who are participating exhibit their work regularly through the region, have work in both public and private art collections and have had their work published.</p>
<p>Participating artists include: Leslie Waugh Dallam, Verna Stonecipher Fuler, James D. Gaar, Stacey D. Miller, Zachary D. Presley, G. Patrick Riley, Paul Walsh, Carla Waugh and Vance Wingate.</p>
<p>The gallery will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, except temporarily for the last two weeks of July for the Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy. The exhibit is a culmination of a year of exhibits celebrating the 105<sup>th</sup> academic year of art at ECU.</p>
<p>A public reception for the exhibit will be held Tuesday, June 9, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Pogue Arts Gallery.</p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center"><strong>-ECU-</strong></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-immediate-release field-type-text-long field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">For Immediate Release:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p> Contact: Brian Johnson or Amy Ford</p>
<p> East Central University Communications and Marketing</p>
<p> 580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 27 May 2015 14:36:39 +0000bjohnson11291 at https://www.ecok.edu